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A confession of extreme camera frustration.
Hello. My name is Debs and I have severe camera obsession frustration. Please help?
In the absence of a Dear Deirdre Agony Aunt Advice Forum I'm sticking this here.
ARGHHHH. That was a primal scream.
I was given a bit of a project this weekend to photograph a school art competition for the Queen's Jubilee. It was a display of 80 pieces of work in a shop. Slightly challenging in a smallish space with customers milling about and trying not to get in anybodys way and some difficult angles but otherwise it should have been fine? No. Instead I completely panicked, got brain freeze and took most shots on scene intelligent auto *hides head in shame*!
Fortunately the shots came out usable but this really isn't acceptable after all this time. I then spent until after midnight post-processing which served me right. Cropping displays of10/15 entrys down to individual ones and I'm still only half-way there and then I have to set-up a web page which I haven't done in years *hysterical laughter followed by sobbing*.
I really do live and breath photograpy right now, I'm so determined to learn this craft and be good at it (one day, it's not totally implausible is it?) but I just can't take seem to take well considered photos on the fly.
I also took myself out of my relative comfort zone of Aperture Priority this week determined to get comfortable using Manual Mode. By the time I'd adjusted each individual setting if I'd have been taking a photo of a snail it would (probably) have travelled across a small country in the time it took me to actually click the shutter!
Advice I've had on here lately was all taken onboard. I've worked out basic metering, how to lock metering and then be able to refocus the camera (Who knew? I was amazed!). I've played around with foil serving trays to get natural light on subjects and considered string and pencils as a makeshift tripod. I looked a lot closer at my focus points in previously taken photos squinting and pixel-peeping until I've gone cross-eyed. I've reread my camera user guide for the umpteenth time. Spent hours reading every article and book I could get my hands on. I've extensively trawled the fuji forum and googled even more daft questions than I've asked on here.
I just don't get it?!? I am of average intelligence (well, I think so) so why is shutter speed vs aperture the thing of my nightmares right now?
Whilst typing this I have broken out in hives, no, really, I have!
yours frustratedly
Debs
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Chin Up!
If it was easy it wouldn't be any fun
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lol
lower aperture setting (f2.8etc) means more light entering camera so shutter speed can be faster, helping reduce shakey shakies!
BUT - also gives you a shallower depth of focus.
high aperture setting (f11 Etc) gives a deeper depth of focus but you need to use a slower shutter speed to allow enough light into the camera.
Aperture is weird as the higher he number, the smaller the aperture becomes.
also take into account the iso setting - you can raise this to 400 or 800 etc and still use f11 with fairly fast shutter speed, but the noise will increase.
I tend to use ISO200, f7.1 or f8 and adjust shutter speed accordingly, depending what shooting and how light it is. And also try to have at least same shutter speed as focal zoom length. 250mm zoom = 1/250 sec shutter speed (at least) if handheld.
after that its just press (many many times ) and hope
web http://www.wix.com/waterdropphotos/tabletop
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If it was an easy thing to master Debs we would all be professionals. Unfortunately we all have to learn the craft of photography by practising and learning from others (this site has some very good photographers who are more than willing to help I have found).
It might help to set yourself a little project where there is no pressure for perfect results. The more you worry about it, the less likely you are to get the pictures you'd like. Photography should be a fun creative thing to do not a source for "nightmares" and "frustration".
I would call myself a happy snapper, I do try to make considered judgements when using the camera but try not to be too disheartened if they do not turn out as I'd have liked.
I hope you get the results you're after Debs, it might just take a little longer than you thought.
Regards, Andy
(And for more practical advice, see above - LOL)
http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/gallery/269489
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Hi
It is the difference between taking pictures for yourself and doing something for others. It may seem easy to translate what you normally do into a more commercial situation, but it is not always that easy.
On your camera frustration. In my view photography is very simple but it has been made too complex by trying to make it easy. It is not the photography that is difficult, it is the camera. It can often blow the myth that the camera can do anything when it clearly can not.
The only solution is to use a camera that you can control. Of course you have to learn how to control it. The principles of photographic exposure are quite simple provided that you concentrate on the whole stop values.
For ISO use linear values; 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, note it doubles for each stop.
For shutter speed; 1 second, 1/2 a second, 1/4 of a second, 1/8th of a second, next compromise is to 1/15th of a second, 1/30th of a second, 1/60th of a second, compromise to 1/125th of a second, 250th of a second 500th of a second, 1000th of a second, 2000th of a second, and so on.
For apertures, with with largest first starting at say; f1.8, f2, f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, f11, f16, f22, f32.
The space between each of the numbers above is one stop. Once you have the correct combination you only need to change one element to make the image lighter or darker.
Do not get confused by all the intermediate numbers. Stay with whole stops until you understand the principles.
Other factors such as colour balance, light,use of flash, correct focus and many control aspects are also easier with a more controllable camera.
Kind regards,
Chas.
Contrasts: http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/competition/entry/609949
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A wise man once said "f8 and BE THERE!"
i.e. f8 covers most eventualities but getting the shot is the most important criterion for any photographer...
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You could try Cambridge in Colour http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-exposure.htm
They have good explanations of most (all?) things photographic with diagrams. Join - it is free and there are very good forums.
And - when you begin to 'get it' just think how chuffed you'll be.
RAW tutorial http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/article/83/146826
Processing Photos tutorial http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/article/83/147565
Be what you are, say what you feel, 'cos those that mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind.
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Hi Debs.
I don't know if this will help or not but this is what I do every couple of weeks or so.
I look for something local I can get to easily normally an event ( that's easy as there are lots around where I live. )
Then I give myself two or more targets of which one is quite often time. Set an amount of time to do as much as you can.
The other then may be to shoot in just one mode like aperture and explore what I can do with it.
Or it could be subject matter.
You could choose any subject you like any place you like. But the idea of the exercise is to see how many are technically OK.
In focus , correct exposure , white balance etc .
I find this helps me to find settings quickly on the fly and what camera features I can rely on and those I can't .
When that becomes more second nature and you have an idea of what you need before you need it , then you can concentrate on things like composition , distractions within the frame and the amount of depth you want .
Today I spent some of my time out ( 30 mins ) concentrating on ISO values for inside close up raptor shots on perches using just the natural light available . This is an exercise I've done before but went through it again today to familiarise myself more with a newer camera body .
The rest of the time there I relaxed and enjoyed the afternoon.
I find by doing this for at least some of the time I'm at each shoot , eventualy I get more relaxed under pressure.
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... and you think you did different to anyone else put in this kind of position for the first time?
If you snapped like crazy, no matter what mode, and came out with usable shots then you succeeded. I freaked a few months ago when invited to photograph a golden eagle release over in Wisconsin. Got some nice shots, not as pressured as your situation, but, what scene did I actually miss? Yep, the actual flippin' release! *slaps forehead*
Take a deep breath and carry on regardless. Good luck next time. Lessons were learned.
Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles. - Charlie Chaplin.<
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Debs, I don't think your reaction is in any way unusual for someone doing a job for the first time. Personally, I think it's a common mis-conception that you have to use the manual mode to be like a professional - I hardly ever use it. If someone is paying you to do a job, they're paying for your skill to see good images, not your ability to use a camera. The camera is just the means to express your vision (if that doesn't sound overly philosophical!)
I shot a wedding a couple of weeks ago and took EVERY shot using aperture-priority, appplying exposure compensation here and there. I got some decent shots and a load of duff ones, but once I'd edited them down and tweaked them, the couple were delighted - they didn't check what modes I was using!
My advice? Take your time, or print out the answers to the questions to take with you so you can jog your memory if needs be
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Dear Fujians,
Sorry it's taken a while to respond - I had to finish the project but job now done *PHEW* (and although rather basic) it seems to have been well received. I hope I did the kids at the school justice inspite of my complete photographic meltdown. I think I'd got so excited about doing it and then was just so angry at myself afterwards when I didn't live up to my own expectations that I had a major crisis of confidence. The toys are now safely back in the pram! ...for now
Sorry if it seemed to be a rant, it was meant rather tongue-in-cheek but I now realise my humour doesn't always carry across in the written word and I think my very real frustration came through more. So, thank you all for your advice I take it all with me each time I pick the camera up (which is rather frequently). I'm here to learn.
Today I picked the camera up again with slight trepidation, in Manual, and I had a most productive time *grins*, but my intelligence has been called into question once again when I decided to turn up the diopter and realised that I could see the light meter *wahoo*. The penny dropped once again! Manual Mode suddenly got rather easier and I enjoyed it
...I may be as thick as 2 short planks afterall!
Ray Fothergill, that photo is the kind I aspire to, one day, I hope.
Thank you all for taking the time to give input, every comment got me thinking and made me more determined. It's the reason I am here
Debs
PS You now all have the dubious pleasure of being my Photo Guru's *run away, run away*
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Hi Debs.
I'm sure you will get there as you throw yourself at it which is good .
So you get overwhelmed
Been there , done that , read the book , ate the film BIG TIME
Have panicked , almost run away with embarrassment , felt sick for days with nerves , shot a whole set of images on the wrong white balance settings and forgotten how to get to specific settings when I needed them .
I could go on . It happens , but less and less now
Now I'm an accredited photographer for two international organisations and I do independent shooting for a small sports publicity firm and also the local council on odd events .
I still don't feel good enough and don't have all the toys of the big boys I often end up shooting with , but I've found other people like my images enough to use me
Just be confident and blag well and you will get there
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Debs see if you can get the book ,, Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson, 3rd edition, He is a fantastic inspiration.... You sound so 'bubbley and outgoing' therefore you will always get help,,,,,,,
Jimmy
http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/gallery/534419
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When some famous photographer (I can't remember who) was asked why people thought he was so great, he replied something like "Only show the good shots" !
Do that, and no one will know or be concerned about the problems you've had or the 100s of duff shots :-)
Regards, Mike
Competition
Flickr
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*Mental note to self to learn to blag and also to delete 1000s of duff shots and pretend I only have a few.
Jimmy, coincidentally I have that book-marked to buy on Amazon after seeing it recommended in an article about exposure, I shall look forward to reading it. Maybe I am blagging a bit already, I'm actually really shy in reality.
The photography related 'To buy...' wishlist gets ever longer
Thanks yet again.
Debs
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Photography is ALWAYS a question of swings and roundabouts. Whatever you gain in one area will always have to be paid for in another.
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Gwalion, I'm definately 'getting' that right now, it makes a lot of sense.
Bit of an update...
Dear Photo Gurus
My camera and I went on a weeks 'bonding' holiday to Corfu, stalking bugs mostly using manual and then trying AI Servo on RC planes and heli's, lots of fun was had and I learnt a lot about my camera too and where I am still making mistakes.
The f8 recommendation was a great starting point as was the focal length vs shutter speed, and with my diopter turned up I am now shooting more confidently in manual, I want to understand cause and effect,so I think I should stick with it until I do? Things I have read and know don't always sink in with me, I start to see numbers and panic...yes I am rather weird in that way! However, I am rather chuffed right now, my deletion rate has gone right down and they're mostly deleted through being too samey. I feel I am actually getting somewhere with me making decisions rather than/for the camera.
I did try to put a blog together but the site seems very slow recently and lots of site maintenance going on?
Anyway, I really just wanted to say thanks again all, it's all been a great help.
Debs
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further to Jimmix7's comment, try YouTube for some short but inspirational videos from Bryan
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All good things take time - but with understanding comes control and with control come the results YOU want.
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Debs,many years ago a Golf pro said to me (after i played a couple of holes badly but still got par)its not how you play the hole its the score that counts,same with your shots its the End result that matters not how you got there, so if its on Auto the only person who will know is you
cris...
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Taking that First Big Step to working for other people will (and probably should) take you out of your comfort zone.
I remember the first wedding I did solo. My hands shook visibly, and my brain refused to work as advertised. I managed to jam up a top grade pro SLR, and generally forgot everything I had ever learned about photography! It was a major miracle that I produced any usable shots at all!
The simple and universal truth is that it does get easier with every subsequent shoot. As you get more comfortable you begin to think more about your technique and goals, and they become steadily easier to achieve. When you get to the point where you are no longer using all your mental energy just trying to control your nerves you will actually find that you can begin to think logically and even lucidly about technique, composition, lighting etc
Fred's advice is spot on. One thing I have learned over the years is that it is only the final result that counts - nobody cares how you got there! Armchair critics will all throw their favourite techniques at you, but the best way to work is the way that you find comfortable, understandable and intuitive.
For balancing flash and ambient light on location I personally prefer to work in manual mode. Similarly I prefer to take a custom white balance (or set a fixed white balance) rather than rely on auto white balance. But that's just my preference! In any action situation, where you are up against the clock I would not hesitate to use Auto exposure and/or Auto white balance. Get a shot and you can perfect it later in post - miss the shot and you have nothing!
Many many pros work on Aperture Priority Auto. or Programmed Mode (sometimes known as 'Professional Mode' LOL) 95% of the time, so don't be afraid to use it! Just learn to check your exposures periodically on the histogram, and don't forget Exposure Compensation! Learning to shoot in RAW mode will also give you a greater margin for errors (though you have to take some time to learn the necessary software).
Keep on keeping on - it's the only way forward! If you stick at it then in a year's time you will look back and wonder why you even began to panic!
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I Remember the first wedding I was paid for, Took some of the Bride preparing For the Wedding and I started getting bad nerves as soon as I got to the wedding venue had a Quick whiskey and the rest of the day went fine, they still tell people how good the photos were ,even though everyone I looked at I could find something wrong.thats when I realised you always will find fault with your own work but unless it is something realy bad ,No one else will see it ( Hopefully)
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I found your comments amusing but most of all honest. It makes a change from people who claim their photos are exceptional when they're not very good. I bet your's are better than you think and everyone praises them. Well done for being brave enough to attempt this project. I am sure the preparation you put in will show through.